Chance and game apparatus.



No. 649.8%. 4 Patented May I5,` |900. T. H. CDKER, In.

CHANGE AND GAME APPARATUS. (Application med Nov. 7, 1899. ma Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

irren rares arnr trice CHANCE AND GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 649,814, dated May 1 5, 1900.

Application filed November 7, 1899. Serial No. 736,144. (No model.)

V To @ZZ zeto'nt t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS II. Conan, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Society Hill, in the county of Darlington and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Chance and Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in chance and game apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of chance and game apparatus and to provide a simple and comparatively-inex pensive device of this character which will afford abundant amusement and which will also be capable of being einployed for the sale of cigars and other articles and which will serve as an incentive to cash purchases.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view, the cover or top being removed. Fig. 4'is an enlarged detail perspective view of the upper portion of the chute.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates acaseof cubical form; but the dimensions and form of the case may be varied, as desired, and the said case l is preferably provided with transparent sides 2 and a transparent front 3. The top l is also transparent, the transparent portions of the case consisting,preferably, of glass arranged within suitable frames, and the back 5, which is provided with suitable mirrors 6, is hinged at its bottom at 7 and is provided at its top with catches 8 for holding it in its closed position; but any suitable locking device may be employed, so that the apparatus maybe placed in a conspicuous position and left unattended without liability of having its contents abstracted.

The top a of the casing is provided with a central cross-bar E), upon which is mounted a bearing 10, composed of two semicircular portions or sections having extended terminals secured together, and one of the sections of the bearing may, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, be formed integral with the cross-piece. iVithin the bearing isjournaled a rotary chute 1l, provided at its top with a plate or head l2, having a slot or entrance 13, and a suitable handle or grip la extends from one side of the upper portion of the chute to enable the same to be rotated to direct its lower discharge end 1.5 to diiierent portions of a board 1G to discharge a coin, disk, marble, or other object upon the said board to cause such object to roll to different portions of the same for a purpose hereinafter described. The -chute may be circular or oblong in cross-section to conform to the configuration of the object to be played with, and it is preferably composed of an upper vertical portion 1S and upper and lower oppositely-inelined portions 19 and 20, which are connected by an intermediate vertical portion 21. The board 1 6 consists of a large square, preferably marked olf on the bottom of the easing, with its angles at the centers of the sides thereof, and itis divided by parallel lines or other suitable means into parallel rows of small squares or spaces 22; but spaces of any other form may be employed, if desired. The board 1G is provided at its edges or boundary-lines with a cushioned rail 23 to retain an object on the board and to cause the same to earom from one portion or side of the board to the other. This rail, which may be constructed in any suitable manner, preferably consists of an elastic band ora series of elastic strips supported by pins 24, arranged at the angles of the board. The small spaces 22 are designed to bear numerals or other characters :for desighating different values, and a central space 25, designed to bear the highest value, is provided. This space is surrounded by elastic pins or pegs 26, and the end 15 of the chute is extended beyond the center of the board in order to render it difficult for an object to stop on the central space. The chute may be directed toward one side of the board to cause the object to strike the cushioned rail and carom back to the central space, and the difficulty of this shot is increased by the obstructions formed bythe resilient projections or pins, disposed around the said space.

When the apparatus is employed as a sim ple game, the person obtaining the highest number or greatest value from a throw or a series of throws wins the game; but when the apparatus is employed to encourage cash sales of cigars and other articles each 'space -is designed to return to the player or purchaser a full equivalent of his money and certain spaces are designed to otter a greater return or a premium, which will constitute an inducement, as a person cannot obtain less and may obtain more for his money than if hev purchased goods directly over the counter. The board when employed for this latter purpose may be provided with a central depression or pocket for the reception of a coin 27 to indicate the value of such space. In order to increase the amusement, the characters or numbers on the board may correspond with characters or numbers on a chart or table, which will indicate the real value of the spaces, and this may be varied as desired.

It will be seen that the apparatus is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that the result is uncertain, and that the arrangement of the board Within the case enables the space to be deflected outwardly, so that it will form an eiicient cushion and cause an object to rebound quickly.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificin g any of the advantages of thisinvention.

What is claimed is- 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a fiat board marked off into spaces and provided with a marginal cushioned rail adapted to cause an object to rebound toward the center of the board, a rotary chute located above the board and having its discharge end disposed at a point between the center of the board and the rail and adapted to be turned toward any side of the said rail, and obstruc- .tions arranged on the board at points between the center thereof and the rail, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a flat board marked ott into spaces,

pins arranged at the boundary of the board, an elastic band stretched on said pins and forming a cushioned rail, and a rotary chute located above the board and adapted to be turned to discharge an object toward any side of the rail to cause an object to rebound toward the center, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a flat board having a cushioned rail extending around it and adapted to cause an object to rebound toward the center of the board, and a rotary chute located above the board and adapted to be turned toward any side of the rail to direct an object against the same to cause said object to rebound toward the center of the board, substantially as described.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing provided at its bottom with a board and having a central bearing at its top, a depending chute having a head journaled in the said bearing, said chute consisting of a vertical upper portion and oppositelyinclined portions 19 and 20, and a connecting vertical portion 2l, the lowerinclined portion being arranged eccentrically of the board, and means for turning the chute, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a [iat board marked off into spaces and provided with a marginal cushioned rail adapted to cause an object to rebound toward the center of the board, a rotary chute located above the board and having its discharge end disposed at a point between the center of the said board and the rail and adapted to be turned toward any side of the rail, and a series of elastic pins arranged around the center of the board to deliect an object from the central space, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS H. COKER, JR.

Witnesses:

JN0. B. WINTERs, J. W. MURcHIsoN. 

